The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is urging women to get screened for breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, noting the state’s high mortality rate from the disease.
Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer among U.S. women and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. For non-white women, it is the leading cause of cancer death. Each year, about 400 women in Mississippi die from the disease, according to MSDH.
Despite those numbers, more than one in four Mississippi women do not receive regular screenings that can detect breast cancer early. Black women face the highest mortality risk, and women over 50, those with a family history, women who delay childbirth until after age 30, and those who are overweight are considered most at risk.
“Not all breast cancers can be detected through self-exams, making screening mammograms the most reliable way to catch breast cancer early,” said Amy Gibbons, director of MSDH’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program.
MSDH will host several events this month to promote awareness and early detection:
- Breast and Cervical Screening: Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson. The event is open to uninsured and underinsured women ages 21-64. Pre-registration is available here. A nurse will contact registrants to confirm eligibility.
- “Know It to Beat It” Webinar Series: Hosted with the Mississippi Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, this “Lunch & Learn” series will feature physicians, advocates, and community leaders addressing breast cancer myths, treatment advancements, and patient resources. Sessions begin at noon on Oct. 1, 8, 14, 16, 22, and 29. Registration and speaker details are available here.
MSDH said the goal of these programs is to increase screenings and save more lives through early detection.
